The Club’s calendar
Events &
gatherings
Diplomacy, innovation and partnerships.
Gatherings from GGSC and its network at the heart of International Geneva.
In focusGGSC · 2026–2027
The Club’s upcoming gatherings
Gatherings to deepen connections between diplomatic missions, institutions and business stakeholders. The 2027 events below form a provisional calendar.
Gala Dinner 2026
The Global South: Partnerships for a Shared Future
The annual Gala Dinner of the Geneva Global South Club brings together permanent missions, international organisations and business leaders for an evening of dialogue, cooperation and partnership. Participation is by request and subject to confirmation.
Hôtel Royal Geneva · Rue de Lausanne 41
GGSC gathering in Davos
A planned high-level North–South dialogue on the sidelines of World Economic Forum week. Date and format to be confirmed; an event independent of the Forum.
Geneva Global South AI Week
Four planned days of roundtables, workshops and institutional meetings. Indicative dates and formats, subject to confirmation.
GGSC during World AI Summit week
Club gatherings focused on delegations, partnerships and international dialogue on the sidelines of the Summit. GGSC programme to be confirmed; the Club is not the Summit organiser.
The Club’s network
Our partners’ events
The Geneva AI Governance Institute (GAIGI) programme, shared with the Club’s members and friends. These events are organised by GAIGI and its partners; participation arrangements are managed by the organiser.
Diplomatic afterwork: artificial intelligence and a free press
Innovation, editorial independence and diplomatic dialogue.
Geneva – Zurich: ecosystem dinner
Compute sovereignty and dialogue between the Geneva and Zurich ecosystems.
Geneva – Zurich: breakfast
Continuing the dialogue on compute sovereignty.
Geneva ecosystem dialogue
A closed-format meeting on Geneva’s contribution to international AI governance.
Where AI standards are actually made
ITU, ISO, IEC: who participates, who decides, and at what pace?
Why compliant AI does not travel
Regulatory fragmentation and recognition of compliance.
Global South AI Leadership Dialogue (GSDG)
From Inclusion to Influence: the Global South’s role in AI governance.
Geneva – Mumbai conference
Digital trade and interoperability, with World Trade Centre Mumbai. Registration to follow.
Reading the signals of early 2027
A dialogue on the year’s early directions in AI.
Geneva AI Trade Forum 2027
Second edition: a dinner followed by a full working day on AI regulatory interoperability.
What is a public AI register, and what is it for?
Introducing the Geneva Register to diplomatic missions.
Writing a national AI policy with a team of three
Approaches suited to administrations with limited resources.
Journées camerounaises de l’intelligence artificielle (JCIA 2027)
Organised with CAIPI: African pathways in AI governance.
Mutual recognition: the 1958 Geneva precedent
Lessons from the 1958 vehicle agreement for AI governance.
Programme closing
Presentation of the first Geneva Notebook.
Calendar consulted on 18 September 2026. Venues and practical arrangements are progressively confirmed by GAIGI. View the official programme ↗
Past GAIGI gatherings and masterclasses
- GAIGI programme opening27 August 2026 · GAIGI
- Geneva AI Trust House6–10 July 2026 · GAIGI
- Geneva AI Trade Forum 202611–12 February 2026 · GAIGI
- GAIGI masterclassesSince 2025 · GAIGI
Retrospective · 14 September 2026 · Hôtel Royal Geneva
AI Readiness for National Growth: a strategic dialogue at the heart of International Geneva
GGSC × Lenovo
Infrastructure, Talent,
Innovation & Governance
A dialogue led by Dr Tolga Kurtoglu, Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer of Lenovo.
On 14 September 2026, the Geneva Global South Club, in collaboration with Lenovo, held a Breakfast Roundtable at Hôtel Royal Geneva devoted to a question that has become central to countries’ growth and competitiveness: how to build the capabilities needed to harness artificial intelligence and turn it into a genuine driver of value creation.
Organised around the theme “AI Readiness for National Growth: Infrastructure, Talent, Innovation and Governance”, the meeting brought together diplomatic representatives, international organisations and institutional stakeholders for a focused, interactive dialogue led by Dr Tolga Kurtoglu, Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer of Lenovo.
Read the full retrospective
A truly international dialogue
The meeting brought together 30 participants and attracted considerable interest within International Geneva, with registrations from missions and representations covering 18 states, territories and a regional representation across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
These included Angola, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Guatemala, Guyana, Iran, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Liberia, Lithuania, Myanmar, Nepal, the Netherlands, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Suriname, Türkiye and Uzbekistan, as well as the Eastern Caribbean through the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
The initiative also attracted interest from representatives of several international organisations and institutions, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the European Public Law Organization (EPLO), Justice pour Tous Internationale (JPTi), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Observatoire Géostratégique de Genève.
This diversity of perspectives reflected the international dimension of AI readiness and the growing importance of enabling different regions of the world to participate actively in the technological transformations ahead and seize the opportunities they offer.
High-level diplomatic participation
The Geneva Global South Club had the honour of welcoming six ambassadors to the meeting.
Alongside H.E. Amb. Prof. Muhammadou M.O. Kah, President of the Geneva Global South Club, were H.E. Mr. George Papadatos, H.E. Mr. Leslie Satrukent Ramsammy, H.E. Mr. Eldiyor Toshmatov, H.E. Mr. Rytis Paulauskas and H.E. Mr. Colin Murdoch.
Their presence and participation enriched the discussion with a diversity of diplomatic and regional perspectives, fully illustrating the GGSC’s purpose of building bridges between diplomacy, multilateralism, innovation and the private sector.
From AI adoption to national capability development
At the heart of the discussion was a fundamental question:
How can countries create value through artificial intelligence rather than simply consume value created elsewhere?
Led by Dr Tolga Kurtoglu, the discussion centred on four closely connected dimensions of national AI readiness: infrastructure, talent, innovation and governance.
Participants discussed the technological foundations needed for AI deployment, the importance of developing local skills and expertise, the conditions that support the emergence of innovation ecosystems, and the role of governance in responsible and sustainable adoption.
A central insight emerged: there is no single model for AI readiness. National strategies must take account of each country’s economic realities, capabilities and development priorities, while creating the conditions for full participation in a global economy increasingly shaped by AI.
The Global South at the heart of AI-driven transformation
For the Geneva Global South Club, the meeting was also an opportunity to place Global South perspectives at the heart of the technology conversation.
Access to infrastructure and computing capacity, skills development, digital sovereignty, innovation ecosystems and the ability to generate value locally are becoming increasingly decisive issues for countries seeking a place in emerging global technology value chains.
Beyond access to technology, the challenge is therefore one of capabilities: enabling countries to develop the infrastructure, talent and ecosystems needed not only to adopt AI, but also to determine how it can contribute to their own growth and development.
A roundtable designed for exchange
Rather than a traditional conference, the morning was designed as a small, interactive roundtable, allowing participants to engage directly with Dr Tolga Kurtoglu and with one another.
This format encouraged open exchange between different national and institutional perspectives, bringing technology, diplomacy, economic development and international cooperation to the same table.
These exchanges illustrate the role the Geneva Global South Club intends to play within International Geneva: creating spaces where diplomatic, institutional and private-sector perspectives can meet, connections can develop and new opportunities for cooperation can emerge.
A dialogue set to continue
The Geneva Global South Club warmly thanks Dr Tolga Kurtoglu for sharing his expertise and perspectives, and Lenovo for its trust and collaboration in bringing this initiative to life.
We also extend our sincere thanks to the diplomatic missions, international organisations, institutions and representatives whose engagement and interest contributed to the international reach and quality of this dialogue.
As the GGSC continues to develop its programme of diplomatic meetings, strategic roundtables and high-level events, exchanges at the intersection of technology, diplomacy, economic development and international cooperation will remain an important part of its activities.
Being ready for artificial intelligence is not simply a matter of adopting a technology. It means developing the capabilities that enable countries to determine how that technology will contribute to their growth, development and future opportunities.
Highlights
A morning of dialogue
Revisit the atmosphere of the 14 September Breakfast Roundtable and the exchanges between participants.
Event film · 30 seconds
The gathering in 16 photographs
The Club’s first gatherings
Previous highlights
12 May 2026 · Launch of the Geneva Global South Club
Event retrospective
A landmark first gathering
in the heart of International Geneva
On 12 May 2026, the Geneva Global South Club officially launched its activities in Geneva with an inaugural evening bringing together nearly 80 participants from diplomatic, institutional, business and academic circles. Held at the Hôtel Royal Genève, this landmark first gathering marked the launch of an ambitious initiative to strengthen bridges between diplomacy, business, innovation and international cooperation in support of the Global South’s momentum.
An outstanding international turnout
We were honoured to welcome nearly 80 participants to this landmark first gathering of the Geneva Global South Club, bringing together ambassadors, diplomats, representatives of permanent missions and international organisations, business leaders, investors, experts in innovation and artificial intelligence, as well as many distinguished individuals engaged in the strategic dynamics of the Global South.
In particular, the gathering brought together representatives of more than twenty-five states and territories from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and the Caribbean, fully illustrating the international vocation of the Geneva Global South Club. Those represented included The Gambia, Angola, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Malawi, Kenya, Singapore, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Guyana, India, the United States, the Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, as well as the member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.
This exceptional diversity of diplomatic, institutional and business representation fully reflected the Club’s ambition: to create, from Geneva, a platform for dialogue, cooperation and strategic connections between the stakeholders helping to shape tomorrow’s international balance.
The Geneva Global South Club had the privilege of welcoming several ambassadors accredited to International Geneva. We express our deep gratitude to H.E. Ms. Erica Schouten, H.E. Mr. Paul Empole Losoko Efambe, H.E. Mr. Aimé Clovis Guillond, H.E. Mr. Jaya Ratnam, H.E. Mr. Leslie Satrukent Ramsammy, H.E. Mr. Colin Murdoch, H.E. Mr. George Papadatos as well as to H.E. Ms. Aicha Vall Verges for their presence and support for this initiative, which brought together, around a shared ambition, stakeholders committed to international dialogue, cooperation and the development of new synergies between Global South countries.
A vision championed from Geneva
Chaired by H.E. Amb. Prof. Muhammadou M.O. Kah, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of The Gambia to the Swiss Confederation and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, this initiative aims to help strengthen the voice, visibility and influence of the Global South within international forums for dialogue and decision-making.
In his opening address, Ambassador Kah shared an ambitious vision based on dialogue, bringing public and private stakeholders closer together and developing new forms of cooperation between the different regions of the world. His particularly inspiring address, widely acclaimed by participants, highlighted Geneva’s unique role as a meeting point for diplomacy, innovation, investment and international cooperation.
An inspiring, forward-looking keynote
The evening also featured a remarkable address by Ms. Priya Pansare, Director – Trade & Investment Promotion at World Trade Center Mumbai.
Through an insightful analysis of transformations in the global economy, Ms. Pansare highlighted the growing role of the Global South in international trade, as well as the opportunities for economic cooperation, investment and trade diplomacy emerging in an ever-changing geopolitical context. Her address sparked keen interest among participants and prompted particularly rich discussions on growth, innovation and international partnerships.
A unique ecosystem of cooperation and influence
Beyond the formal addresses, this gathering fostered high-quality exchanges between diplomats, international organisations, entrepreneurs, investors, innovation experts and decision-makers.
Several leading institutions were also represented, including the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP), the European Public Law Organization (EPLO), the Permanent Delegation of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Geneva International Centre for Justice, the World Heart Federation, the University of Geneva as well as numerous stakeholders from finance, governance, innovation, cybersecurity, economic diplomacy and international development.
These exchanges confirmed a real need for a space in Geneva that can effectively connect diplomatic, institutional and business circles around shared interests and concrete opportunities for cooperation.
Momentum set to grow
This inaugural evening marks the first step in an ambitious programme that will include diplomatic meetings, strategic roundtables, networking events and initiatives dedicated to economic diplomacy, artificial intelligence, innovation, investment and international cooperation.
The Geneva Global South Club warmly thanks all the participants, speakers and partners who contributed to the success of this landmark first gathering.
The future of the Global South will be built through dialogue, partnerships and human connections. This is precisely the ambition that the Geneva Global South Club intends to champion from the heart of International Geneva.
